Google's video recaps 2012 most popular searches

Google's video recaps 2012 most popular searches

For those whose apprehension escalates as year 2012 draws to a close, here's a video that will make you look forward to what could be in store for next year.

Instead of a countdown to Armageddon, Google encapsulated in a less than three-minute video the search trends of 2012, which featured the world's history makers, hitmakers, and game changers.

The year-ender video reminds viewers of the milestones and breakthroughs of science, the rise and fall of leaders, and the death and birth of icons. It also winds back viral videos – from tragic to silly – that have enraged many, that have touched hearts, and have left some teary-eyed.

The top trending Google searches included the death of singing icon Whitney Houston, the damages of Hurricane Sandy, the US presidential election, the Olympics 2012, the hit film Hunger Games, the viral dance Gangnam Style, and sports superstars like Jeremy Lin.

It also featured the supersonic space jump of Felix Baumgartner, the nationwide protests that toppled tyrants from power, and the highly anticipated tech gadgets and video games.

At the end of the video, Google Zeitgeist wrote: Search on. Google serviced a total of 1.2 trillion searches and 146 languages in 2012.

The Google Zeitgeist video has been watched more than 2.4 million times since it was posted on YouTube.